Sarah's dad tells her she can have the greater of the following two amounts for her allowance (in dollars):

The difference of 3 times 4 and 2

3 times the difference of 4 and 2

Question

Sarah's dad tells her she can have the greater of the following two amounts for her allowance (in dollars): 

The difference of 3 times 4 and 2

3 times the difference of 4 and 2

pfenn1 · Answer

I think Sarah's dad is tricky.  The two choices sound so similar.  Just remember that difference implies subtraction and times is multiplication.  You have to parse the statements to see which you do first, multiplication or subtraction.  The first statement is the difference of (3 times 4) and 2 so the equation is

pfenn1 · Answer

$$A_1=(3 \times 4)-2$$and the other 3 times the difference of (4 and 2) so this equation is$$A_2 = 3 \times (4-2)$$Which allowance would you like better?